Sprint recently announced it has partnered with Arizona State University to develop a “Smart Campus” and eventually turn Arizona into a “Smart State.”
The telecommunications giant made the announcement at the MWC Los Angeles 2019 summit. Sprint will work with ASU to bring 5G and the Curiosity Internet of Things (IoT) operating system to ASU’s campus, offering new and immersive experiences for students.
“Having a strategic partner like Sprint at the table is invaluable,” said Chris Richardson, deputy chief information officer for development, mobility and smart cities at ASU. “This isn’t just about technology, even though their mobility focus for 5G is a game-changer. It is about know-how, an ecosystem, and an accelerator to our ASU Smart Campus, Cities and Regions initiatives. We fully expect this relationship to enable the co-creation of visible solutions that benefit our students, staff/faculty, and the broader community.”
The two entities will be creating a “Curiosity University” that offers an advanced degree centered around IoT development as well as research and development opportunities for blockchain technology.
“While 5G has proliferated, there does not yet exist a living lab of a mobile 5G smart city or smart campus, making this partnership the first of its kind in the country,” said Lev Gonick, chief information officer for the University Technology Office at ASU.
The two organizations will work to contribute to a larger expansion of internet connectivity in the Phoenix metro area as well as underserved rural areas in Arizona.
“The Internet of Things is driving the fourth industrial revolution right before our eyes, changing how we interact with everyday items and increasing the possibilities of technology and data,” said Ivo Rook, senior vice president of IoT and product development at Sprint. “We are proud to work with Arizona State University to help create an entire smart region ready to pave the way for the future.”
Sprint and ASU will be offering the following services:
• Fast 5G service and IoT applications at the university;
• A new ‘Curiosity University’ for ASU employees, meant to foster a new generation of IoT experts;
• A Sprint 5G Incubator at ASU’s Novus Innovation Corridor; and
• Ongoing joint research and development.
“Our collaboration with Sprint exemplifies the broad benefits of a university-corporate relationship,” said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president of ASU Knowledge Enterprise. “The entire university community and those throughout the greater Phoenix metropolitan area will benefit directly from this collaboration by having access to Sprint’s network and through the educational and research aspects that will usher in new innovations in technology.”
This story was originally published at Chamber Business News.
